GAUL’S SACRED CANTATA

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1931, Page 8

GAUL’S SACRED CANTATA

CHORAL SOCIETY PERFORMANCE. SUCCESS OF STRATFORD SINGERS. With a sympathy of expression and an excellence of rendition that indicated complete mastery of their subject, members of the Stratford Choral Society gave “The Holy City" in the Town Hall, Stratford, yesterday. There was a fair attendance in the afternoon but the hall was filled for the evening performance. “The Holy City” is a sacred cantata which was composed by A, R. Gaul in 1882 for the Birmingham musical festival, and the work, though not a great one when compared with similar compositions of the great masters, is very pleasing in all its phases, being characterised throughout by dulcet and graceful melody. Tho chorus “Thine is the Kingdom” proved that Gaul wrote for imposing effect as well as for simple musicianship, and the society showed that he achieved both objects admirably. “Let the Sea make a Noise ’ belongs to tho successes of massive choral writings, and this entire chorus with its fugal conclusion, “Let the Heavens Rejoice,” gives evidence of grand design on the part of the author. The air and chorus, “A New Heaven and a New Earth,” with its pianissimo “Sanctus” is a splendid idea, and its inherent qualities were brought out to perfection. The pieces for solo voices had the melodious characters shown by the rest of the work and those, with the choruses and instrumentation, combined to give appropriate musical expression to the whole theme. The society has been directed in its production by Mr. J. Edmondson, who was conductor, and evidence of his familiarity with such ■work was reflected in the masterly manner in which the individuals of the chorus were balanced to secure the most delightful of harmonic effects. In his choice of soloists, too, Mr. Edmondson showed discernment, and the talent at his command could not have been better arranged as far as adoption to the parts taken was concerned. The orchestra of 16 instruments, with Miss G. Galbraith as pianiste, was never at fault and no singers could have been aided' by better accompaniments. The orchestra also played two selections of Dvorak and Verdi as well as the orchestral pieces and “Adoration” in “The Holy City.” The opening orchestral number was Dvorak’s “Humoreske.” That was succeeded by the choral prayer “We Bow in Prayer” (Edmondson). Mr. W. L. Hay, whose powerful tenor with its extensive range has seldom been heard in public in Stratford, sang “Comfort Ye” and “Every Valley” (Handel) before the orchestra played a selection from Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” The first item in the prologue to “The Holy City" was the quartet “Love not the World," in which Mrs. W. Harris, Miss E. Beadle, Messrs. W. Lonsdale and R. Hook combined most effectively. Mrs. Harris’ solo, “He That Overcometh," was taken up by the chorus and carried to its final phase with the intercession of the quartet. The introduction was disposed of by the orchestra in “Contemplation,” after which the chorus piece, “No Shadows Yonder,” led up to “No Weeping Yonder,” a solo by Mr. Hay, who followed with the air, “My Soul is Athirst for God.” The women of the chorus only sang “At Eventide it shall be Light,” the men adding a deeper tone in “They That Sow in Tears.” Miss M. Massey ranged the scale with her beautiful soprano to interpret the air, “Eye Hath Not Seen,” prior to two choruses, “For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country," and “Thine is the Kingdom," in the latter of which a most impressive effect was secured. Came a break while the orchestra played “Adoration,” which introduced the air “A New Heaven and a New Earth.” Mr. B. Bellringer, baritone, sang the solo in masterly manner and hidden voices, typifying those of angels, floated forth to give an impression of echo. Then came the chorus, “Let the Heavens Rejoice,’’ with the air “To the Lord Our God" as a solo by Mr. Hay. Mrs. G. Pickles with her rich contralto voice sang “Come, Ye Blessed" as a prelude to the chorus’ “The Fining Pot is for Silver.” It was Mrs. S. Robinson, soprano, who very capably sang the air “These Came out of Great Tribulation.” This was followed by the duet “They Shall Hunger no More” by Miss Massey and Mrs. Pickles. The women alone were heard again in “List I The Cherubic Host," while when Mrs. Harris and Mr. Bellringer sang “And I Heard the Voice of Harpers” the hidden singers were heard again, the entire effect, especially when heard from the circle, being well conceived and striking in its execution. The conclusion was the chorus “Great and Marvellous are Thy ;Works, Lord God”—a fitting finale to a Jf’fii/ well produced work.